Blind deserve privacy, too

Larry Johnson, For the Express-News

Updated 4:15 pm, Friday, April 22, 2016

Privacy is a basic human right. And that I happen to be blind does not change this or my desire to independently and privately review my bank and credit card statements, check my utility bills, read a restaurant menu, or enter my PIN when checking out at the big-box store.

The failure by companies to recognize the privacy rights of people with visual impairments is bad policy and bad customer service, and can lead to the forced disclosure of personal information that should be kept confidential.

I recently changed my dental health care provider and asked the company to send a copy of my plan in Braille. They said, “Oh, we don’t do that. Don’t you have someone at home who can read it to you?” A few months ago, I was offered a credit card with some attractive features by my bank. It provides monthly statements of my checking and CD accounts in Braille, for which I am grateful. So I asked if I would receive the credit card statements in Braille. “No,” they said, “it’s a different company.” I hope to change their mind.

Several years ago, I contacted the local utility company and requested my monthly bill in Braille. They declined: “If you want to call Customer Service, we can have someone read it to you over the phone.” But I want to be able to read it by myself, at my convenience, like everyone else.

Often, the attitudes underlying these behaviors are unconscious. They are so embedded and pervasive that those voicing them are unaware of their impact. Such beliefs lead to the perception that blind people aren’t entitled to, don’t want or can’t benefit from protection of their privacy.

A blind friend tells of going to a doctor’s office and being asked to reveal verbally her medical history and Social Security number to the receptionist in a waiting room full of people. Not only was this embarrassing, but it was a blatant and dangerous invasion of her privacy. Unscrupulous individuals are ever ready to steal someone’s personal information and sell it for profit.

Lainey Feingold, a leading national attorney on disability rights, states: “Stereotypes about people with disabilities, no matter how unconscious those stereotypes are, often lead to legal problems. Well-meaning companies can invest in accessible technologies and adopt new policies, but if the staff who interact with the public still holds unsupported, unfair and outmoded views of people who are blind, legal issues will continue to arise.

“That is why customer service training is an important part of an effective accessibility policy, and often a key component of a structured negotiations settlement. There are many aspects of a good training program, but one of the most important is dissolving stereotypes about blind people that all too often lead a company into legal trouble.”

Respect my right to privacy, just as you ask that I respect yours. And that’s how I see it.